Automatic corn popping machine



April 13, 1954 G. MARTIN 3 AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1950 7 sham-sheet 1 l INVENTOR. /e M71122 afllarney ka .6; 1 M- April 13, 1954 Filed March 29, 1950 G. MARTIN AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 72 7f fl i 67 4/ f 7 172 INVENTOR.

April 13, 1954 'n 2,674,936

AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1950 7 Sheets-Shet s JNVENTOR.

II: BY4 /e Mm? April 13, 1954 G. MARTIN AUTOMATIC- CORN POPPING momma Filed March 29. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

April 13, 1954 G. MARTIN 2,674,936

AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 IN VEN TOR.

fillarne April 13, 1954 G. MARTIN AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

filo/nay April 13, 1954 G. MARTIN 2,674,936

AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1950 7 Sh'eets-Sheet 7 I I fl D l I 57 @I 85 INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES FA'EENT QFFICE AUTOMATIC CORN POPPING MACHINE Gayle Martin, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 29, 1950, Serial No. 152,564

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic room popping machine adapted to pop and deliver the corn batches.

It has been foundin making automatic-com popping machines, particularly those popping the corn in oil, that thetime required to pop the corn varies with the initial temperature; of the oil as the corn is putinto it. That is; the cooler the initial temperature the greater the length of time the corn must remain in the-oil in order to become fully popped.

It has been found further that when the unpopped corn is dropped into oilthat is too hot, the shell is cracked and'full expansion of the kernal is precluded, resulting in small incompletely popped kernels and a resulting poor product.

It is an objectof this invention to provide a machine which will pop and deliver popcorn in predetermined quantities.

Another object is to provide 'a machine topop popcorn inbatches which will deliver the corn when the popping operation is completed.

Another object is to provide anautomatic popcorn machine which will reduce the number of unpopped kernels to a minimum.

A further object is to provide an automatic popcorn machine in whichthe-amount of corn popped may be varied.

A further object of the invention is to. provide an automatic popcorn machine, popping. the corn in. oil, in which objectionable odors are eliminated.

A further object is to provide an. automatic popcorn machine, popping the. corn in oil, in which overheating of the. oil is precluded.

A further object is to provideanautomatic I popcorn machine popping the corn. in oil, in which excess oil is drained from the corn prior to delivery to the consumer.

A further object, is to provide an automatic popcorn machine, popping thecorn inoil, in which excess oil isreturned to a supply source.

A still further object is to provide an automatic popcorn machine, popping the corn in oil, in which the machine will shut. off upon depletion of either the unpopped corn or oil supply.

A still further object is to provide an automatic popcorn machine in which the popping operation may be viewed bythe user.

A still further object is to provide an automatic popcorn machine in which the dumping of the popped corn is controlled by the volume thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic popcorn machine whichwill 2 preclude corn from becoming lodged between the basket and the heating element.

A still further object is to provide an automatic popcorn machine which cools the oil after each popping operation.

A still further object is to-provide an automatic corn popping machine, popping the corn in oil, in which the maximum temperature of the oil-is regulated to insure proper popping.

A still further objectis to provide an automatic popcorn machine employing a motor to actuate the machine in which the motor is stopped during the popping operation and reactivated'when the po ped corn reaches a predetermined volume.

A still further object is to *previdean automatic popcorn machine which may be easily kept clean and sanitary.

A still further object of the invention isto provide an automatic popcorn machine which will be relatively simple to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is tOiDI'O- vide an automatic popcorn machine which will be relatively free from mechanical breakdowns.

A still further object is to provide a'machine which will preclude unpopped corn from being dropped into oil which is at or near a searing temperature.

A still further object is to provide a corn popping machine in which cool oil is supplied to the cooking chamber at the beginning and. end of the cooking cycle. v V

Stillfurther objects of this invention will become apparent upon considering the following specification, which, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrates a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the present invention, parts thereof being broken away to more clearly illustrate certain other parts;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking. in the direction of the arrows, and showing the basket in dumping position;

Fig. 3 is a view. similar to Fig. 2 showing the popping chamber and basket, with the basket in popping position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the basket in draining position;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the corn popping basket, per se; I I g,

Fig. '7 is a detail of the safety cutoffs used to shut down the machine upon depletion of oil or corn supplies;

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the corn feed hopper per se and is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a cross-section taken on the line I-I0 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram showing electrical connections of the entire machine.

Fig. 12 is a detail of a safety timer mechanism; and

Fig. 13 is a view taken on the line I3I3 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, the popcorn machine is housed in a case I (Figs. 1 and 2) which is roughly rectangular in shape with a tapered recess I6 in the front. The recess I6 has an opening I? through which the popped corn is ejected.

The popped corn is received in a hopper 19 in the lower part of the recess I 6 directly below the opening H. The hopper I9 has a door 20 which is normally held closed by a spring 22. A transparent plastic cover 24 is provided forthe upper part of the recess I6 above the hopper I9 to enable the purchaser to view the corn during popping. A plastic name plate 25 may be inserted in a slot in the top of the machine.

The popping mechanism is supported in the case I5 on arms 26 which are carried on ledges (not shown) in the case. I

The arms 26 support a popping chamber 28 which chamber is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the popping chamber 28 is made of a pair of parallel vertical side walls 3030 having an extension on the lower end to provide a cooking chamber 3 I.

The side walls 30-30 are joined by a top wall 32 which extends between the side walls and has an opening therein to receive the corn hopper, generally designated 35. The rear of the chamber 28 is enclosed by a rear wall 31 which extends around the bottom to enclose the cooking chamber 3|. The wall 37 has a slit opening 40 adjacent the bottom of the chamber 3i to admit oil from a well 42.

The well 42 envelope the lower part of the cooking chamber 3| and receives cool oil pumped by a positive displacement pump 43 (Fig. 5) from an oil reservoir 44 (Fig. 2) through oil pipes 45 and 46. Excess oil returns to the reservoir 44 by gravity through an overflow pipe 48.

The front end of the popping chamber 28 is open and is covered by a glass door which is mounted on a shaft 51. The shaftis mounted to pivot in bearings in the upper edge of the side plates 30 adjacent the front of the machine.

The manner of operating the pump 43 and rotating the shaft 51' to open and close the glass front 55 of the popping chamber 28 will be given in detail below.

A second shaft is mounted to rotate in bearings 62 in the lower part of the popping chamber 20. The shaft 60 carries a popping basket 65.

The popping basket 65 comprises an open top metal basket having openings El in the bottom thereof adapted to admit hot oil from the cooking chamber 3i. A tray 60 having upturned sides 69 forms the handle for the basket. The tray 68 is secured to the shaft 50 and is adapted to be rotated thereby from a popping position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the bottom of the basket is immersed in the oil in the cooking chamber 3| tto a drain position shown in Fig. 4 in which the basket is entirely out of the oil and thence to a discharge position shown in Fig. 2 in which the popped corn is discharged into the hopper Ill.

The popping basket 65 has a plate 10 hinged on the rear end thereof. The plate has a curved upper tip II which is in constant contact with the rear wall of the popping chamber 28, being held in contact with the rear wall 37 by a tension spring 12 mounted between the plate 10 and the basket 65.

The basket 65 and plate I0 both extend across the width of the popping chamber so that at no time and under no circumstances can kernels of corn become lodged under the popping basket.

The oil in the cooking chamber (H is heated by means of a heating coil 14 which is mounted between the bottom portion of the side walls 3030 in the oil in the cooking chamber 3i directly below the lowest position of the basket 65. The heat supplied to the oil in the cooking chamber is regulated by a thermostat including a thermo-couple 16 in the oil.

Corn is supplied to the popping basket from a measuring hopper, generally designated 35, located above the popping chamber 28 and projecting through the upper wall 32 thereof. The measuring hopper 35 comprises a measuring chamber I8 (see Figs. Band 10) having a sliding inlet gate 19 to admit corn to the chamber from a supply chamber 80. A discharge gate BI is fixed to and pivots with a shaft 82 to discharge the corn into the popping basket 65. A manually adjustable bafiie 83 regulates the amount of corn in the measuring chamber.

The gate 19 is mounted on a reciprocable rod 05 and is adapted to move between the corn in the measuring chamber #8 and the corn in the supply chamber 80.

The supply chamber as seen in Fig. 2 is somewhat wider than the measuring chamber 18 and is provided with an upstanding transverse rib 86 extending above the bottom 8! of the supply chamber 80 and below the sliding gate 19.

The provision of the upstanding rib 86 above the bottom of the chamber 80 permits the gate 19 to shut under all conditions while at the same time gives an exact measurement for the corn delivered from the measuring chamber IS.

The upper end of the supply chamber is open and receives corn from a bowl 90 which may be filled with corn to insure a constant supply thereof to the hopper.

The mechanical movements of the machine are all performed by electric motor through the medium of a pair of cams 9| and 92 (see Fig. 5). The cams ill and 92 are fixed on a common sleeve 95 which also has a driving gear 91 secured thereon between the cams 9I and 92. The cam assembly, including the sleeve 95, the cams 9I and 92 and the driving gear 91, is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 98 formed on the outside of the popping chamber 28 and is secured thereon by a nut I00 (Fig. 1).

The cam assembly is driven from a. motor I02 mounted at the rear of the popping chamber, and preferably carried by the side wall 30 of that chamber. The motor drives a worm I03 which drives a worm wheel I04 which turns a shaft I05 on one end of which is a worm I01 and on the other end of which is an eccentric I08 which reciprocates the pump 43 through a connecting rod I09.

The worm I01 drives a worm wheel IIO which enemas "rotates: a gear, I I I through a eommon: shaft: H2

'Ihe'gear II I turns the driving gear-91 which actuates the cams 9I and 92.

The outside cam 92, which is somewhat larger than theinsidecam 9I, controls emptying of the corn hopper 35 and the refilling thereof through a pin I I4 which is' fixed on the outside of the cam 92 and rotates about. the shaft 98 with. the'cam. The pin I I4 contacts a lever II5. fixed on the shaft 82 to rotate the shaft 82. .Upon rotation of 'theshaft 82 the gate 8|, which is fixed to the shaft 82, opens to allowcorn in the measuring chamber 18 to drop into the popping. basket 65.

The pin II4 also moves a second lever I.I9 to rotatea shaft I20. Rotation of the shaft I20 moves a lever. I2I which actuates the. rod 85 to open the sliding. gate 19 to refill, the measuring chamber 18. A tension spring I22 connected between arms I23 and I24. on thelevers Ila-and II9,.respectively, constantly urges the. gates.8!

and. 1.9. into closed positions.

Thecam element. 92-has a cam surface. enerally designated I25, on the. periphery thereof. A cam follower I26 rides-on the camsurface I to actuate a lever I28. The lever I28 is fixed on the shaft 60 so that movement. of the lever I28 rotates the shaft 80 to movethe popping basket The lever I28 has a link I30 pivoted thereto which actuates a lever I3I fixed to the shaft. 51, so that. movement of the lever I28 also rotates the shaft 51 to open and. close the glass door 55 to the popping. chamber 28. A spring I32. constantly urges the cam follower I26 toward the center of the cam 92.

The combined action of thelever I28 upon the popping basket 65 and the glass door 55,. as the cam rotates, is to move thehasketfrom its discharge positionand. the .door 55'from. its open position at the startv oftheoperation with-the follower I26 in a, recess I33 to positions where the basket 65 is in popping position in. the oil and the door 55 is closed, as the cam -moves. in the direction. of the arrow I34 (Fig. 5). Asthe follower I26 drops onto the intermediate portion I35 of the cam 92 the door 55 is retained substantially closed and the basket 65 is lifted. out of the oil to drain excess oilfrom the. corn. When the follower I26 again drops into the recess I33, the door 55 is opened by the link. I30 and at the same time the basket 65 is snapped to discharge position (as seen in Fig... 2) causing the corn to fall into the hopper I9.

The lever I28 has an arm I38 formedthereon which arm I38 carries a mercury tube switch I39 and a pin I40. The switch I39 .is-ad'aptedto move to on or closed, position as the follower I26 is moved, away from. the. shaft 98v bythe rotation of the cam 92 and to off or open position as. the cam follower I26 drops. into .therecess I33. The switch. I39 remainsclosed during the timethe. follower. [26 is. ridingon the intermediate portion I35 of. the. cam 92. The pin I40 is adapted to contact a lever I4I which lever is pivoted at I42, to force the lever into contact with a switch I43to. open the latter switch after the mercury switch I39 closes. 'The switch I43 is closed to start the operation of the machine by pressing a button I45 onthe outside of the casing I5.

The second cam 9| is adapted to cooperate with an umbrella I (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) to control the operation of the motor during the popping. The. umbrella I50v .is.carriedwithin the; popping chamber 28- have. red I=52-which passes through 6 a-horizontal bearing I53 in fireside-30 of the popping chamber 28 and bends downward-.to carry the umbrella I50 adjacent the lower central portion ofthe popping chamber (Fig.3) durn p ppin Outside the popping chamber the rod I52 receives a block I51 (Fig. 5) to which it-is affixed. Theblock-|51 has'a cam follower I58 which contacts the outer peripheral surface of the cam 91. The follower I58 is maintained in constant contactwi-th the cam-9| by a spring I58 the other end of which is connected to a portion of the popping chamber 28. The block I51 carries a mercury switch I59 which is connected in series with the switch I39 sothat when current is interrupted through either switch I39 or I59 the motor I02 stops.

At the beginning of. the operation the follower I58 is riding on a high point in the'cam 9I', as shown in Fig. 5, and the umbrella I50 israised tothe top of the popping chamber 28 as seen in Figs. 2 and 4. In this position the switch I59 is closed. The: switch 59 remains vclosedruntil the cam 9| rotates to a low point I60 atwhich time the rotation of the block I51 has rotated the rod I52 causing the umbrella I50 to-lower to a position shown in1Fig..3.

When the follower- I58 reaches this lowpoint I60 the block I51 has rotated through. an angle sufficient to open the switch I59 and stop the motor I02. The motor remains stopped during substantially the entire poppingoperation- In normal operation when the corn in. the popping basket is completely popped, it'raises the umbrella. I50 sufficiently to rotate the block I51 enough to close the switch I59to reactivate the motor. It has been found, however, asa safety measure only, to be very desirable to limit the time which the corn, may remain in the hot oil. For that purpose a. standard I63 is mounted onethe arm 26 and carries a time clock I65. The cloek'is wound by apin I66 projecting from the side of the cam. BI and is adapted to contact the follower I58 to close the switch I59 at the end of the predetermined time period in theevent that. the popping corn does not effect that'function;

The electrical connections for the entiremachine are shown in Fig. 11. The power comes into themachine through a pair ofwires I10-I'1I and passes through a fuse I12 in the line I10. From the fuse I12 the :power goes through a binding post I13 through a safety switch I" which may be a mercury switch for convenience, thence through -a second binding post I15 and through a main switch I16 which is preferably a-snap switch actuated bytabutton I11 (Fig. 2) on the front of the machine. The power is. then delivered to a binding post I18. From the binds ing post the power passes through axlight I19, thence-to a binding post: ttilsto' complete the eucuitthrough the wire 'I'II.. The specific method of operating the switch I14 will be given in detail below.

All the electrical equipment heretofore described in connection with Fig. 11 lies to the left of the line A-B and is situated on the left hand sidev ofthe'machine. The following electrical equipment shown on the right of the line A--B is located on the right hand side of the machine.

*From thebin'ding post I18 a line I8I leads from the left handside of the machine to a binding post- I82 on the right hand side of the. machine.

A powerline Ilia leads from: thelzbinding post 182 to the heating coil 14 thence to the thermo stat to a binding post I84. From the binding post I 84 the current travels through a line l95 and through the switch I39 actuated by the cam 92 to a binding post I86. From the binding post I 99 the current travels through the line I81 to the binding post I99 and thence to the line III to complete the circuit. Thus as lon as the switch I39 is closed current flows through the heating coil 14, and conversely when the switch I39 opens power is cut off from the heating element 14. The switch I39 has a switch I43 shunted around it through a line I98 so that when either switch I39 or I43 is closed, current passes between the binding posts I84 and I86.

It will also be noted that power to the heating coil 14 is controlled by the thermostat 15 in such a manner as to limit the temperature of the oil to a predetermined maximum.

A second power line I99 from the binding post I 92 leads to the motor I92 thence through the mercury switch I59 on the cam 9I to the binding post I34. From the binding post I94 the current must pass through either the switch I39 or I43 to return through the line 81 to the line I'll. It will thus be apparent that the switches I 39 and I59 are in series with the motor I92 and hence both switches I59 and I39 or the switches I 59 and I43 must be closed in order to actuate the motor I02.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 for details of the safety switch I 14, it will be seen that the mercury tube switch I14 is carried in clips I93 formed on a metallic strip I94. The strip I94 is pivoted at I95 to a bracket I99 so that the weight of the tube I14 tends to cause that end of the switch to drop down into closed position. The rotative movement of the switch I14 about the pivot I95 is limited by a stop I91.

The end of the strip I 94 has an Hshaped bracket, comprising a pair of parallel legs I98I93 and a vertical cross piece I99, pivoted to it at the center of the cross piece I99.

A float 299 in the tank 44 has a rod 292 attached thereto which passes through holes in both legs Illa-I98 on one side of the cross piece I99. The rod 262 has a weight 293 (Fig. 8) attached thereto which is adapted to contact the top of the leg I98 as the level of the oil drops and raise the mercury tube I14 to open the switch.

In order to stop the action of the machine when the supply of corn in the bowl 99 gets too low, a paddle 2I9 is mounted in the entrance of the supply hopper. The paddle 2H! is pivotally mounted on a rod 2 I2 which extends horizontally through the side of the hopper and is bent down and provided at its lower end with a hook 2I3.

The hook is engaged in an eye 2I4 on a rod 2I5. The rod 2I5 depends from the hook and passes through a pair of holes in the opposite sides of the legs I 98-499 from the rod 202. A weight 2I1 is secured to the rod and is adapted to contact the top of the leg I98 in the event the level of corn in the hopper 35 becomes too low.

In practice the paddle 2 I0 is held in the dotted line position 210' by the weight of corn on top of it, and moves to the solid line position 2") under the influence of the weight 2II' when the weight of the corn is removed. Pressure of the weight Zn on the top of the leg I98 rotates the tube I14 counter-clockwise to open the switch and cutoff all current to the machine.

8 p It will thus be'seen that either a deficiency oi? oil or corn will cause a shut down of the machine.

Operation At the beginning of the operation the switches I39, I43, I59 and I16, the popping basket 65 and the glass door 55 are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and the electrical connections are as shown in Fig. 11.

To start the machine the knob I11 is turned, closing the main snap switch I16. If there is com in the bowl 99 and oil in the tank 44, the safety switch I14 will be closed and the light I19 will then light. The machine is then live but does not start operation since both the switches I39 and I43 are open, preventing current from reaching either the motor I02 or the heating coil 14.

When it is desired to pop a batch of corn the switch I43 is closed by pressing the button I45 inwardly thus completing the circuit through the switch I43 to the coil 14 and to the motor I92. This starts the coil heating to heat the oil in the cooking chamber 3I. At the same time the motor I92 starts, pumping oil from the tank 44 through the pipe 45, through the pump 43, through the pipe 46 and into the well 42, excess oil draining out the overflow pipe 48 and back into the tank 44. As the oil is pumped to the well 42 a portion of the oil in the well enters the cooking chamber 3| through the slot 49 to form a coolant at the ends of the cycle.

Simultaneously with the heating of the oil the motor turns the cams 9I and 92 on the shaft through the train of gears including I93, 194,

I91,II9,IIIand91. I

As the cams SI and 92 turn in the direction of the arrow I34, shown in Fig. 5, the follower I25 moves outwardly moving the arm I 36 to the right as seen in Fig. 5, causin the slope of the tube to reverse and the mercury in the tube I39 to close the switch. After the switch I39 is closed the pin I49 then contacts the lever I41 to move that lever into contact with the button of the switch I43 to open that switch. From this point the switch I39 carries the current in place of the switch I43.

The movement of the cams 9| and 92 moves the lever I28 counter-clockwise, as seen in Fig. 5, to rotate the main shaft 69 causing the popping basket 65 to move down into the oil. As the basket moves down into the oil the link I 39 moves down rotating the shaft 51 to close the glass door 55 which is secured to the shaft 51.

As the cams 9| and 92 continue to rotate, the pin II4 contacts the lever H5 and its shaft 82 to rotate them counter-clockwise, as seen in Fig. 5, or clockwise as seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, to open the gate 8| (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 9) and allow corn in the measuring chamber 18 to drop down intothe lowered basket 65. After the pin H4 passes the lever H5, the spring I22 returns the lever to its original position, closing the gate 8i, leaving the measurin chamber 18 empty, and ready for refilling. It will be noted that the plate 19 by remaining in constant contact with the rear wall 31 and the rear edge of the basket precludes the possibility of corn from the measuring chamber 18 falling behind the basket 69 or the popping corn in the basket from becoming wedged behind the basket. I

After the corn is dropped into the basket 65 from the measuring chamber 19, the follower I 58 begins to move in toward the low point I69 on the cam 9|, which movement turns the rod I52 and lowers the umbrella -l 50' to the position shown in Fig; 3." When the umbrella is fully lowered as seen'in Fig. 3, the follower I58 hasreached the low point I69 in the cam -9|, reversing the slope of the mercury switchl59 to cause the mercury therein to run to the opposite end of the tube and open the switch. Opening the switch-I59 opens the circuit through the motor I92 "causing the motor to stop. Stopping of the motor I02 stops both'the pumping of oil through the pump'43 and the stopping of both cams 9 I and '92;

At the time the cams BI and 92 stop, due-to opening of the switch I59, the pin I It has released the lever H5 and has not yet contacted the arm I19, the pin II'4 thus beingpositioned between the two levers I I5 andl I9;

The heating coil 1'4 which has been-heating since the closing of the switch I43 at the beginning of the operation, continues to heat the oil in the cooking chamber 31, thus popping'the'corn. Shoud the oil get above the desired popping temperature the thermo=couple I6 cuts'off current'to the coil without affectin the motor circuit and so prevents overheating of the oil.

When the corn is substantially popped, the ex'- pansion causes the corn to raise the umbrella slightly causing the switch I59 to rotate on its pivot independently of the cam 9| and closes the switch, reactivating the motor I132. The operation of the motor I02 starts the. cams 9I 'and'92 rotating, at which time the cam 9| picks up the follower and rotates theswitch I59 clockwise, as seen in Fig. 5, turning thepivotal rod I52 and raising the umbrella tothe position shown in Figs. Zand 4-.

At the same time as the umbrella I50 is being lifted by the cam 9|, the cam 92also rotates and the pin H4 contacts the lever H9 rotating. the lever H9 and its shaft. I counterclockwise, as

seen in Fig. 5, or clockwise as seen inFig. 9, causing the lever I2I (Fig. 9) to move therod 85 to the right and open the gate 19. Openingthe gate 19 causes corn from the hopper 89 to flow down and. refill the measuring chamber I8.

As the pin II4 moves past the, lever -l I9 the spring I22 causes rotation of the shaft I20 in the opposite. direction closing, the gate 19 withthe measuring chamber 18 full. It will be noted that the spacing of the gate 19 above the lipBBassures the gate 19 closing under all conditions.

In the rotation of the cam .92about. theshaft 98 the follower I26 rides on the camsurface I25 until the step comes opposite the. follower. at which time the follower I25 drops-onto the cam surface I35. This drop-of the cam follower I26 onto thesurface I occurs as the umbrella-is rising due to the rotation. of the pivotal rod I52.

The movement of the follower I26 towardthe center of the cam 92 causes a rotation of the shaft 60 clockwise, as seen. in Fig. 5, which raises the basket .outof the oil'and into theposition shown in Fig. 3, allowing the excess ;oil to drain from. the corn. Thisslight rotation of the lever I28 and the shaft 60, while it does open theglass door 55 slightly,.has very little effect upon it and the door remains substantially shut during ;this period.

When the cam rotates sufliciently to drop the follower I2t intof. the recess I33' the popping basket ,65 is rotated and stopped with-a snap. at the same timethe. glass door-.55 opens to eject all the corn from the basket-intoxthe.hopper; I9.

Corn is removed fromthehopperbyopening thegate 2uzandz'permitting. the-corn to slide/out by gravity;

In the event that excess oilis retained on the basket after the draining and runs down thetray 68"it follows around the shaft tit and is returned tothe oil well 42 for reuse.

;It" will be realized that the hereinbefore describedformof the invention is merely a preferred embodiment thereof and that various changes in size shape and arrangement of parts may be I made-without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. That which is'claimed as new and is desired tobe secured by-Unitedstates Letters Patent is: 1. An automatic corn popping machine of the character describedcomprising, a popping basket, a motor mounted adjacent the popping basket, a cam-actuated by said motor, a cam follower engagingsaid cam and adapted to move the hasket intoand out of popping position, a first switch, means to actuate said switch to start the motor and move the basket into popping position, a second switch, means to actuate said second switch to stop the motor when the basket-is in popping position, means actuated by said motor to deliver a measured quantity of corn to said basket, means to pop the'corn in the basket, and

' meansac'tuated'by-the expansion of the popping cornto reactivate the motor to remove the basket from opping position and expel the poppedcorn therefrom.

2. An automatic corn popping machine of the character described comprising, apopping basket, amotor mounted adjacent the popping bas- -ket-,- a cam actuated by said motor, a cam follower engaging said cam and-adapted to move the hasket into and out of popping positioma first switch,

means to actuate'said switch to start the motor and move the basket int-o popping position, a second switch, means to actuate said second switch to-stop the motor when'the basket is in popping position; a'corn' hopper mounted above said basket; means" actuated by said cam to deliver a measured quantity ofcorn from said hopper to said basket; means to pop the corn in the-basket, and m'e'ansactuated'by the expansion of the poppingcorn to reactivate the motor to remove the basket from opping position and expel the popped corn therefrom.

3. An automatic corn popping machine of the character described comprising, a popping basket, 'a. motor .mounted adjacent the popping, basket, a camactuated .by said motor, a cam follower en-- g agingsaid camv and adapted to move the basket into and out oiipopping position, a switch adapted to start the .motortomovethe basket into popping positioma switch adapted to stop the motor when the basket is in popping position, means actuated by saidmotor to deliver a measured quantity of corn to said basket, a heating coil beneath the basket whensaid basket is in popping. position, an electric circuit including the first'named switch tosupply current. to the coil to pop the corn, and .to maintain the current on independently of saidsecondnamed switch, means activated by the expansionv of the corn to. reactivate the motor to move the basketbut of popping position and expel'the popped corn,.and means to open. the first-named switch .tostop the. motor and deenergize .the coil simultaneously.

4-. An automatic corn popping machine of the character. described. comprising, an. oil container, aipoppingbasket, means to lower thebasket into the-oil, means todeliver a-measured quantity of unpopped-corn tosaid basket .whenthe. basket islnzthe. oil, meansto heat,-the..-oil.to. pop the corn, means operable euponwthe popped corn atl I taining a predetermined height in the basketto raise the basket and hold it above the oil to drain excess oil from the corn, and means to dump the popped corn from the basket after draining the excess oil.

5. An automatic corn popping machine of the character described comprising, an oil container, a popping basket, a motor adapted to lower the basket into the oil in the container and to raise the basket from the oil after the completionof the popping cycle, means to actuate the motor' to lower the basket into the oil, means to shut ofi" the motor when the basket is in the oil, means including said motor to deliver a measured quantity of unpopped corn to said basket while the basket is in the oil, means to heat the oil to efiect popping of the corn, and means to reactivate the motor when the popped corn has attained a predetermined height in the basket to remove the basket from the oil,

6. An automatic corn popping machine as defined in claim including means to cool the oil in the container at the conclusion of the popping cycle. a

7. An automatic corn popping machine of the character described comprising, an oil container, a popping basket, means to lower the basket into the oil, means to deliver a measured quantity of unpopped corn to said basket, means to heat the oil and efiect popping of the corn, means operable upon the popped corn reaching a predetermined height in the basket to raise the basket from the oil and deliver the popped corn and means to cool the oil in said container at the conclusion of the popping cycle.

8. An automatic corn popping machine of the character described comprising, an oil container, a popping basket, means to lower the basket into the oil, means to deliver a measured quantity of unpopped corn to said basket, means to heat the oil and effect popping oi the corn, a thermostatic control in the oil to limit the temperature of the oil to a predetermined maximum, means operable upon the popped corn reaching a predetermined height in the basket to raise the basket from the oil and deliver the popped corn and means to cool the oil in said container at th conclusion of the popping cycle.

9. An automatic corn popping machine of the character described comprising, an oil container, a popping basket, a motor adapted to lower the basket into the oil in the container and to raise the basket from the oil after the completion of the popping cycle, means to actuate the motor to lower the basket into the oil, means to shut ofi the motor when the basket is in the oil, means including said motor to deliver a measured quantity of unpopped corn to said basket while the basket is in the oil, means to heat the oil to effect popping of the corn, a thermostatic control element in the container adapted to limit the temperature of the oil to a predetermined maximum and means to reactivate the motor when the popped corn has attained a predetermined height in the basket to remove the basket from the oil.

10. An automatic corn popping machine of the character described comprising, an oil container, a popping basket, a motor adapted to lower the basket into the oil in the container and to raise the basket from the oil after the completion of the popping cycle, means to actuate the motor to lower the basket into the oil, means to shut oiT the motor when the basket is in the oil, means including said motor to deliver a measured quantity of unpopped corn to said basket while the basket is in the oil, means to heat the oilto effect popping of the com, a thermostatic control ele ment in the container adapted to limit the temperature of the oil to a predetermined maximum, means to reactivate the motor when the popped corn has attained a predetermined height in the basket to remove the basket from the oil and means to cool the oil in the container at the conclusion of the popping cycle.

11. An automatic corn popping machine, adapted to pop a batch of corn on each cycle, comprising, an oil container, an oil reservoir adjacent said container, a pump adapted to supply cool oil from the reservoir to said container at the beginning and end of the cycle, a motor, means connecting the motor with the pump to actuate the latter, a popping basket adapted to move into and out of said oil, means actuated by said motor to move the basket into the oil, means actuated by said motor to deliver a predetermined quantity of corn to said basket when the latter is in the oil, means to heat the oil to effect popping of the corn, means to stop the motor during popping of the corn, means to reactivate the motor when the popped corn in the basket reaches a predetermined height to raise the basket out of the oil to deliver the popped corn from the basket.

12. An automatic corn popping machine adapted to pop a batch of corn on each cycle, comprising, a rectangular housing including parallel side walls, a back wall and a top wall, a heating unit located in the bottom of said housing, a popping basketfitting between the side walls of the housing, means pivotally mounting said basket on the forward edge of the housing whereby said basket is movable between a corn ejecting position and a popping position adjacent said heating unit, means in the top wall of the housing to supply unpopped corn to the basket when it is in popping position, a plate extending between said side walls and bearing against the back wall at the upper end thereof, and means pivotally securing the lower edge of the plate to the inner edge of the basket.

13. An automatic corn popping machine adapted to pop a batch of corn on each cycle, comprising, a rectangular housing including parallel side walls, a back wall and a top wall, a heating unit located in the bottom oi said housing, a popping basket fitting between the side walls of the housing, means pivotally mounting said basket on the forward edge of the housing whereby said basket is movable between a corn ejecting position and a popping position adjacent said heating unit, means in the top wall of the housing to supply unpopped corn to the basket when it is in popping position, a plate extending between said side walls and bearing against the back wall at the upper end thereof, means pivotally securing the lower edge of the plate to the inner edge of the basket, and means retaining the upper edge of the plate against the rear wall of the housing. 14. An automatic corn popping machine adapted to pop a batch of corn on each cycle, comprising, a rectangular housing-including parallel side walls, a back wall and a topwall, a heating unit located in the bottom of said housing, a popping basket fitting between the side walls of the housing, means pivotally mounting said basket on the forward edge of the housing whereby said basket is movable between a corn ejecting position and a opping position adjacent said heating unit, means in the top wall of the housing to supply unpopped corn to the basket when it is in popping position, a plate extending between said side walls and bearing against the back wall at the upper end thereof, means pivotally securing the lower edge of the plate to the inner edge of the basket and a tension spring mounted between the rear of said plate and the rear of said basket to constantly retain the upper edge of the plate in engagement with the back wall of the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number 14 Name Date Holcomb et al Dec. 18, 1923 Jackson Jan. 20, 1931 Bettandorfi June 8, 1931 Nicolino Feb. 9, 1932 Burch June 5, 1936 Pagendarm Mar. 17, 1936 Roach Apr. 27, 1937 Mills Apr. 5, 1938 Obdyke Oct. 25, 1938 Kortum Oct. 10, 1939 Rusk Nov. 19, 1940 McBeth Mar. 27, 1951 Lee et a1 Feb. 26, 1952 

